Hose anti-collapse ribs, systems and methods

ABSTRACT

An integral hose anti-collapse rib comprises a unitary body having a first cantilevered portion curved in a first direction. This first cantilevered portion defines a first end. A second cantilevered portion is curved in a direction opposite the direction of the first cantilevered portion, in a direction facing the first cantilevered portion. The second cantilevered portion also defines a second end disposed at an opposite extent of the rib from the first end. The hose anti-collapse rib also comprises a locking mechanism that locks the first end of the rib to the second end of the rib, such that the first and second cantilevered portions together form a generally circular shape. However, in a relaxed state in which the locking mechanism is not engaged, the rib preferably defines a non-circular, generally spiral shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to hoses, more particularly to hoses subject to vacuum, and specifically to hose anti-collapse rib systems and methods.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Turbocharger intake hoses and other applications that require vacuum resistance typically require thick walls, stiff materials, built-in springs, or internal springs to resist collapse. These solutions are expensive, difficult to install, and heavy. Because internal springs have a high surface area and have no interference fit with the hose, vibration and high air flow can cause them to move out of place, even into the engine, possibly even into the intake port. Even minimal spring movement can damage, or interfere with the operation of, engine control sensors. Regardless, movement of such a spring could result in hose collapse. Furthermore, built-in springs often require hand lay-up manufacturing. Disposition of springs within hose can cause discontinuities that may lead to premature hose failure. Such discontinuities might include: voids in hoses in which springs are molded-in; shear stress in the rubber of the hose due to the great difference in stiffness between the spring and the hose rubber; uneven loading of clamps due to an underlying spring; and/or vibration failures due to the spring wearing through the rubber of the hose.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to hose anti-collapse ribs, systems and methods which provide resistance to collapse in turbocharger intake hoses and other vacuum hose applications. In particular, embodiments of the present invention are directed to an internally disposed stiffening rib that expands and locks into place on the hose ID. This solution allows relatively inexpensive, thinner wall hose to be used in relatively higher vacuum applications. The rib may be made of relatively thin, low cost molded plastic. The material might be selected to be resistant to rusting, and resistant to other chemicals which could include ethylene glycol, re-circulated fuel, oil, etc. Advantageously, such ribs cause less flow restriction than a typical internal spring. Unlike springs, the ribs expand and preferably lock into the hose. The present ribs also have minimal cross-sectional area exposed to the flow stream within a hose, minimizing the force that the flowing fluid applies, further assuring that the rib will stay in place.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention an integral hose anti-collapse rib might comprise a unitary body having a first cantilevered portion curved in a first direction. This first cantilevered portion defines a first end. A second cantilevered portion is curved in a second direction opposite the first direction of the first cantilevered portion, that is, in a direction facing or towards the first cantilevered portion. The second cantilevered portion also defines a second end disposed at an opposite extent of the rib from the first end. Such embodiments also preferably comprise a locking mechanism that locks the first end of the rib to the second end of the rib, such that the first and second cantilevered portions together form a generally circular shape. However, in a relaxed state in which the locking mechanism is not engaged, the rib preferably defines a non-circular, generally spiral shape.

The rib may also include one or more interference ridges defined in an exterior surface of the cantilevered portions. This ridge may, in certain embodiments be adapted to deform a hose in which the rib is disposed to provide an interference interlock between the rib and the hose when the rib is expanded within the hose. An interference ridge could consist of one or more interference projections of any shape adapted to engage the inner surface of the hose when the rib is expanded within the hose.

The locking mechanism might comprise complementary tabs defined by the ends, wherein each of the tabs is an end portion of the respective cantilevered portion having a thickness approximately one-half the thickness of the respective cantilevered portion. In such embodiments the tab defined by the first cantilevered portion may be generally aligned with an inner portion of the first cantilevered portion and the tab defined by the second cantilevered portion may be generally aligned with the outer portion of the second cantilevered portion. The tabs may comprise a leading edge defined by one of the cantilevered portions and a complementary leading edge receptive notch defined by the other of the rib's cantilevered portions.

In certain embodiments a locking ridge may be defined in an outside surface of one of the tabs in certain embodiments with a complementary groove, adapted to receive the locking ridge, defined in an inside surface of the other of the tabs. The groove may extend beyond the other tab along an inside surface of the respective cantilevered portion. The cooperative edge and notch lock the rib in the expanded position, possibly in conjunction with the cooperative locking ridge and groove.

In operation, a hose anti-collapse rib such as described above may be deployed by disposing the hose anti-collapse rib within a hose that is to be subject to vacuum or similar collapsive forces and expanding opposite curved cantilevered portions of the rib to form the rib into a generally circular shape in contact with an inner surface of the hose. This expanding may be accomplished in certain embodiments by indexing a ridge defined in an outer surface of one tab in a groove defined in an inner surface of the other tab. More specifically, the expanding may include sliding the ridge defined in the outside surface of the one tab in a groove defined in an inside surface of the other cantilevered portion, guiding the ridge into the groove defined in the inner surface of the other tab. Preferably the hose anti-collapse rib is locked in the generally circular shape. Such locking may, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, include mating a first tab defined by an end of a first of the cantilevered portions with a second tab defined by an end of a second of the cantilevered portions. Movement of the rib within the hose may be prevented by engaging an interior surface of the hose with a ridge defined in an outer surface of the rib.

A method for forming such an anti-collapse rib might include molding a rib body having a first curved cantilevered portion and a second curved cantilevered portion. This molding might include forming tabs in ends of the cantilevered portions. The tab formed in the end of the first cantilevered portion may be formed to have approximately half the thickness of the remainder of the first cantilevered portion. Correspondingly, the tab formed in the end of the second cantilevered portion may be formed to have approximately half the thickness of the remainder of the second cantilevered portion.

Preferably, the second cantilevered portion has a curvature deflected in an opposite direction, toward the end of the first cantilevered portion. An end of the second cantilevered portion may be positioned under the first cantilevered portion such that the rib body forms a generally circular shape that can be expanded into a larger generally circular shape. Preferably the larger generally circular shape is more circular than the initial circular shape. Consistent with the above discussion, the ends of the rib body may lock in place upon expansion of the rib body in the larger generally more circular shape.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of the specification in which like numerals designate like parts, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present hose anti-collapse rib;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the rib disposed in a relaxed state;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the rib disposed in a collapsed state, prepared for insertion in a hose;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the rib expanded;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented, generally cross sectional view of the rib body, taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented environmental view showing an embodiment of the present hose anti-collapse rib disposed in a turbocharger intake hose; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmented view of the locking mechanism of a ratchet embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of present hose anti-collapse rib 100 preferably employ a dual cantilever limb configuration, where the rib is molded in the approximate shape of two integral limbs one with a curvature greater than the other, deflected or curved in opposite, facing directions. This provides a non-circular, somewhat spiral, rib, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, having the general shape of a “6” or a “9”. If first limb 101 is thereafter positioned under limb 102 the generally circular, spiral, collapsed ring configuration shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Upon expansion of rib 100, the expanded and locked (more) circular shape shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

In greater detail, the illustrated embodiment of an integral hose anti-collapse rib 100 might be a unitary body having a first cantilevered portion or limb 101. First limb 101 is preferably curved and defines a first end 105. A second cantilevered portion or limb 102 is preferably curved in a direction opposite the direction of the first cantilevered portion, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. As will be appreciated from FIGS. 1 and 2, first limb 101 preferably has less curvature (i.e. a larger radius) than second rib 102. Second limb portion 102 preferably also defines second end 106, which may be viewed as being disposed at an opposite extent of rib 100 from first end 105. Preferably, as may be best seen in FIG. 5, all edges of the rib are tapered or chamfered to keep the hose from being damaged during expansion of the rib or by the expanded rib itself. Taper 107 of internal edges of rib 100 preferably minimize flow disruption created by deployed rib 100.

The illustrated embodiment of rib 100 also includes hose interference ridge 109 extending outwardly from an exterior surface of rib 100. In certain embodiments, interference ridge 109 is adapted to deform a hose in which the rib is deployed to provide a heavy “interference interlock” between the rib and the hose. For example, with attention directed to environmental FIG. 6, when rib 100 is expanded within hose 601 (illustrated as a turbocharger intake hose), interference ridge 109 contacts inner surface 602 of hose 601, deforming it, as evidenced by external bulge 603 in hose 601. This contact between interference ridge 109 and inner hose surface 602 provides the aforementioned interference interlock, which prevents movement of rib 100 within hose 601, including bracing the rib to help prevent rotation of the rib within the hose or migration of the rib along the length of hose 601 (toward turbo charger 605). In particular, the interference interlock helps assure that under heat and pressure, the hose will not expand beyond the diameter of the rib and cause the rib to move out of place, such as toward the impeller of turbo charger 605. It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present invention may employ more than one interference ridge extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the rib to enhance the above-described interference interlock. Likewise, an interference ridge could comprise one or more interference projections of any discrete shape, size, and/or arrangement or pattern adapted to engage the inner surface of the hose when the rib is expanded within the hose. Also, it should be appreciated that adhesive or some other method to attach the expanded rib to the interior of the hose wall can be used to ensure that the rib does not move within the hose.

The illustrated embodiment of rib 100, also preferably includes locking mechanism 110 that locks first end 105 of rib 100 with second end 106 of rib 100, particular when rib 100 is disposed in the expanded configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Thereby, in the expanded and locked configuration best seen in FIG. 4, first and second cantilevered limb portions, 101 and 102, together form a generally circular shape. However, in a relaxed state in which locking mechanism 110 is not engaged, rib 100 preferably defines the generally spiral shape seen in FIG. 3.

Locking mechanism 110 might comprise complementary tabs 115 and 116 defined by ends 105 and 106, respectively. Each of tabs 115 and 116 are an end portion of the respective cantilevered limb portion 101 or 102. Preferably each tab has a thickness that is approximately one-half the thickness of the rest of rib 100. In the illustrated embodiment the tabs each comprise a leading portion of the respective cantilevered limb and are complementary, when disposed in the loading configuration shown in FIG. 3 or the deployed configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Thus, a leading portion of limb 101 defines receptive tab 115, adapted to receive opposite tab 116 upon expansion of rib 100. In the illustrated embodiment, tab 115, defined by first cantilevered portion 101, might be generally aligned along an inner thickness or surface of the first cantilevered portion. Complementarily, tab 116, defined by second cantilevered portion 102, might be generally aligned with an outer thickness or surface of the second cantilevered portion.

Illustrated locking mechanism 110 further employs edge 120, defined by the leading edge of second limb 102 and receptive notch 121 defined at the base of tab 115 in first limb 101. Further, illustrated locking mechanism 110 may also employ edge 123, defined by the leading edge of first limb 101 and receptive notch 124 defined at the base of tab 116. In the expanded configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, leading edges 120 and 123 are disposed in respective receptive notches 121 and 124 to lock rib 100 in the generally circular expanded state.

Illustrated locking mechanism 110 also employs alternative locking ridge 125 extending outwardly from an outside surface of tab 115 and complementary groove 126 (best seen in FIG. 1) defined in an inner surface of tab 116, which is adapted to receive locking ridge 125. Groove 126 may (discontinuously) extend beyond notch 124 of tab 116, along an inside surface of cantilevered limb portion 102 to act as a guide for locking ridge 125 during expansion of rib 100 from the spiral condition shown in FIG. 3 to the expanded state of FIGS. 4 and 6. This guiding might also aid in alignment of rib portion 101 with rib portion 102 during deployment. Once deployed, locking ridge 125's indexing with groove 126 helps prevent lateral slippage of tabs 115 and 116, further ensuring the integrity of expanded rib 100. Also, in the expanded position, locking ridge 125 might add support to the portion of interference ridge 109 that extends onto the surface of tab 102 by filling in groove 126.

A method for forming illustrated anti-collapse rib 100 might include molding a one-piece rib body having integral first and second curved cantilevered limb portions 101 and 102. This molding might include forming tabs 115 and 116 at the ends of cantilevered limb portions 101 and 102. Consistent with the description above, tab 115 formed in the end of the first cantilevered portion 101 might be formed to have approximately half the thickness of the remainder of the first cantilevered portion. Correspondingly, tab 116 formed in the end of second cantilevered portion 102 may be formed to have approximately half the thickness of the remainder of the second cantilevered portion. As also described above, second cantilevered portion 102 preferably has a tighter curvature than first cantilevered portion 101, deflected or curved in an opposite direction, toward the end of the first cantilevered limb portion. Following initial forming or manufacture, rib 100 has the initial “6” shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described in greater detail below, the end of first cantilevered portion 101 may be positioned under the second cantilevered portion 102 such that the rib body forms a generally circular, spiral shape that can be expanded into a larger generally circular shape. Preferably the larger generally circular shape is more circular than the spiral shape. In other embodiments, the deployed or expanded generally circularly shape may be more oval or the like in order to fit within a hose of generally oval shape or other shape that is not precisely circular.

Hose anti-collapse rib 100 described above may be deployed generally by following the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. A rib having the general manufactured shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be deflected into the general spiral shape shown in FIG. 3 by passing first limb portion 101 under second rib portion 102, or conversely passing second limb portion 102 over first rib portion 101, such as by deflecting one or both rib portion laterally. As a result, rib limb 101 is “loaded” against limb 102. Hose anti-collapse rib 100, in the spiral-shaped configuration of FIG. 2, may be disposed within a hose that is to be subject to vacuum or similar collapsive forces, such as turbocharger intake hose 601. Then rib 100 may be expanded into the configurations shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by expanding oppositely curved cantilevered limb portions 101 and 102 to form the rib into a generally circular shape that preferably contacts inner surface 602 of hose 601. This expanding may be accomplished, or facilitated in some embodiments, such as those illustrated, by indexing locking ridge 125 defined in an outer surface of tab 101 in groove 126 defined in an inner surface of tab 116 and limb portion 102. More specifically, the expanding may include sliding locking ridge 125 in the portion of groove 126 defined in the inner surface of limb 102, guiding locking ridge 125 into the portion of groove 126 defined in the inner surface of tab 106. Regardless, the loading of limb 101 against limb 102 will facilitate locking tabs 115 and 116 together. Preferably, hose anti-collapse rib 100 is thus disposed in a generally circular shape and may be locked into this shape, at least in the illustrated embodiments, by mating edge 120 of second tab 116 with notch 121 defined at the base of first tab 115, and the indexing of locking ridge 125 with groove 126. Thus deployed, movement of rib 100 within hose 601 will be arrested in various embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, by engaging interior surface 603 of hose 601 with interference ridge 109, defined in the outer surface of rib 100.

As can be appreciated, the locking mechanism described is only illustrative. Various embodiments of the present invention might not employ the locking ridge and groove. Other example embodiments might employ additional locking structures that might include bonding the tabs together after installation by means such as adhesive or ultrasonic welding. Such bonding might be employed in the place of, or in addition to, the interlocking provided by the illustrated edge/notch and/or locking ridge/groove locking mechanisms, or the like. Other embodiments of the present invention might employ an external ring, corresponding to the rib, such that the hose wall is deformed between the external ring and the internal rib to aid in keeping the rib locked in place.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 utilizes tabs with leading edges that lock into notches at a designated rib diameter, resulting in a constant thickness rib. However, ratcheting rib embodiments, such as rib 700 of FIG. 7, that could deploy or open to multiple diameters, may also be an attractive option. Such a ratcheting design could possibly be spring-loaded, such as by forming the limb portions with an outwardly expanding bias, to automatically expand into place once positioned in the hose. In such a ratchet embodiment “dogs” 701 might be defined on a surface of one tab and “pawls” 702 might be defined on the facing surface of the other tab, such that the dogs and pawls engage in a one-way, locking fashion. If such an embodiment is spring loaded, as the hose in which the rib is disposed expands, due to temperature or fatigue, the rib would ratchet outward, tighter.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. 

1. A hose anti-collapse rib comprising: a first cantilevered portion curved in a first direction and defining a first end; a second cantilevered portion curved with a different curvature than said first cantilevered portion and in a direction facing said first direction and defining a second end disposed at an opposite extent of said rib from said first end; and means for locking said first end to said second end such that said first and second cantilevered portions together form a generally circular shape.
 2. The rib of claim 1 wherein in a relaxed state in which said means for locking is not engaged, said rib defines a non-circular spiral.
 3. The rib of claim 1, further comprising an interference ridge defined in an exterior surface of said cantilevered portions.
 4. The rib of claim 3, wherein said interference ridge is adapted to deform a hose in which said rib is disposed to provide an interference interlock between said rib and said hose when said rib is expanded within said hose.
 5. The rib of claim 1, wherein said means for locking comprises complementary tabs defined by said ends.
 6. The rib of claim 5, wherein each of said tabs is an end portion of said respective cantilevered portion and each of said tabs has a thickness approximately one-half the thickness of said respective cantilevered portion.
 7. The rib of claim 6, wherein said tab defined by said first cantilevered portion is generally aligned with an outer portion of said first cantilevered portion and said tab defined by said second cantilevered portion is generally aligned with an inner portion of said second cantilevered portion.
 8. The rib of claim 5, wherein one of said tabs comprise a leading edge and another of said tabs comprises a complementary leading edge receptive notch.
 9. The rib of claim 5, wherein said locking means further comprises adhesive securing said tabs to one another.
 10. The rib of claim 5, further comprising: a locking ridge defined in an outside surface of one of said tabs; and a complementary groove defined in an inside surface of said other of said tabs, adapted to receive said ridge.
 11. The rib of claim 10, wherein said groove extends beyond the other tab along an inside surface of the respective cantilevered portion.
 12. The rib of claim 1, wherein said means for locking comprises a ratcheting mechanism.
 13. The rib of claim 1, wherein external edges of said cantilevered portions are tapered.
 14. The rib of claim 1, wherein internal edges of said cantilevered portions are tapered.
 15. A method comprising: disposing a hose anti-collapse rib within a hose subject to vacuum; expanding opposite curved cantilevered portions of said rib to form said rib into a generally circular shape in contact with an inner surface of said hose; and locking said hose anti-collapse rib in said generally circular shape.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: preventing movement of said rib within said hose by engaging an interior surface of said hose with a interference ridge defined in an outer surface of said rib.
 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising: preventing movement of said rib within said hose by adhering an exterior surface of said rib to an interior surface of said hose.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein, said locking comprises mating a first tab defined by an end of a first of said cantilevered portions with a second tab defined by an end of a second of said cantilevered portions.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said locking further comprises indexing a ridge defined in an outer surface of one of said tabs in a groove defined in an inner surface of the other of said tabs.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said expanding further comprises sliding said ridge in a groove defined in an inside surface of the other of said cantilevered portions, guiding said ridge into said groove defined in said inner surface of said other tab.
 21. A method comprising: molding a rib body having a first curved cantilevered portion and a second curved cantilevered portion, said second cantilevered portion having a tighter curvature than said first cantilevered portion, deflected in an opposite direction, toward said first cantilevered portion; and positioning an end of said first cantilevered portion under said second cantilevered portion such that said rib body forms a generally circular spiral shape that can be expanded into a larger generally circular shape.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein said ends of said rib body lock in place upon expansion of said rib body into said larger generally circular shape.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein said molding comprises forming tabs in ends of said cantilevered portions.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said tab formed in the end of said first cantilevered portion is formed to have approximately half the thickness of a remainder of said first cantilevered portion and said tab formed in the end of said second cantilevered portion is formed to have approximately half the thickness of a remainder of said second cantilevered portion.
 25. The method of claim 21 wherein said larger generally circular shape is more circular, than said generally circular spiral shape. 